eNews for July 22, 2020

News for our Parish Community

eNews

July 22, 2020

Good Trouble for the Sake of The Gospel.

Remembering the life of Congressman John Robert Lewis (February 21, 1940 – July 17, 2020), the body of Christ, the Church, is invited to ponder this quote that may best sum up Lewis’ ministry as a follower of Jesus. "Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."

More than ever, I am encouraged, and continue to learn that so are many others amid the struggles of this broken world. - The Rev. Ollie V. Rencher, Rector Explore and engage life at GSL and invite others for the journey! Our Vision is to be a thriving community of hope, belonging, and healing through worship, parish life, and service, and who rejoices in the love of Jesus to transform the world.

Virtual Offerings

Thursday, Men’s Morning Fellowship, 7 until 7:45 a.m. via ZOOM. Hosted weekly by Doug Duncan and the Rev. Ollie V. Rencher, all men may join at any time. Follow this link for what to expect and ZOOM access information. Following this week’s meeting, the group will take a break until September 10.

Thursday, July 23, 8 until 8:15 p.m. Compline (Night Prayers) via Facebook Live.

The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, July 26, 10:30 a.m. Livestream Service of Morning Prayer including sermon and music via the GSL website and Facebook Live.

The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, July 26, 5:30 p.m, Musical Moments in July: An organ concert by Director of Music & Organist, Dr. Patrick A. Scott on Facebook Live and YouTube Live.

The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost, July 26, 8:00 p.m, Service of Sung Compline on Facebook Live and YouTube Live.

Tuesday, July 28, 8 until 8:15 p.m. Compline (Night Prayers) via Facebook Live.

Event Details. For important details about each of these and more, follow this link to Virtual Offerings and watch for the Friday Looking Ahead eNews.

Take Note: New Highlights

Sung Compline, July 26 at 8 p.m. Read more under Worship and Music.

Outreach Grant Applications due August 31. Read more under Outreach and Social Justice.

Formation and Congregational Life Offerings: Summer-Fall. Stay tuned for rich August and beyond offering plans for adults, youth and children. The clergy-staff team is working with ministry area leaders on a wide variety of options for individual and household engagement.

Ongoing events, less-recent news, and more, explore below: Worship and Music, Christian Formation, Community Life, Outreach and Social Justice, and Stay Informed.

Worship and Music

Worship: Online and In-Person. Join us via livestream or in-person on Sunday mornings at 10:30 as the clergy and musicians lead worship services. Limited space is available for inperson worship and sign up is required. Click here to sign up for Sunday, July 26. Compline (Night Prayers) is offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 p.m. via Facebook Live. Visit www.gracestlukes.org/worship for more about worship, and to explore past and upcoming services, follow this link.

Musical Moments in July Final Event, July 26: 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Tune in for the last of short Sunday recitals on Facebook and YouTube Live. We’ve enjoyed music this month for trumpet and organ and solos by our GSL staff singers. To close out the series, GSL’s Director of Music & Organist, Dr. Patrick A. Scott will present an organ recital of Marches for the Organ: including, Meyerbeer’s “Coronation March, from Le Prophète,” one of Elgar’s “Pomp & Circumstance” marches, sweet little marches by Handel and Haydn, and Walton’s famous “Crown Imperial.” Videos of each livestream offering will also be posted on www.gracestlukes.org/events/musical-moments-injuly/. Spread the word and tune in.

Sung Compline, Sunday July 26 at 8 p.m.

Join the Rev. Ollie V. Rencher, the Staff Singers of GSL, and Dr. Patrick A. Scott as they lead a prerecorded service of Compline. This rich tradition includes sung prayers, chanted Psalms and lessons, and will feature Leo Sowerby’s famous Nunc Dimittis in D. Tune in at 8 p.m. on Facebook Live and YouTube Live.

To sign up to receive the GSL eNews, go to www.gracestlukes.org/news/weekly-enews/.

Christian Formation

Virtual VBS 2020: Compassion Camp.

It’s our fourth and final week of Compassion Camp (July 20) and we’re learning that compassion helps us to be present with each other. This is an especially interesting concept to talk about with children during this time of physical distance, in which “being present” often can’t mean being in the same place together.

Being present with someone means focusing on another person and being open to their feelings, listening, and asking how to support them best. Our campers had great ideas about how to do that, even while we’re apart, and suggested writing a letter, leaving a voicemail, FaceTiming, or giving a gift.

Follow this link for more on Compassion Camp 2020 Week 4.

Thanks to all our Compassion Campers for being part of this special experience!

Adults. Explore Virtual Offerings for current opportunities. Currently, the clergy-staff team is working with ministry area leaders on plans for the later summer and fall months.

Children and Youth.

Visit www.gracestlukes.org/discover/children-and-youth-formation to explore the ways to further engage children and teen on their spiritual journeys.

Community Life

GSL Fall Sports Registration. GSL plans to participate in the traditional ESCRA League Fall Sports Program. The GSL Church JK-4th grades fall sports registration is open and can be accessed online at www.gracestlukes.org/youthsoccerandfootball. Remember to register promptly because teams do fill up quickly. Additional information may be found by visiting the above link. We look forward to resuming our youth fall sports programs in some capacity as soon as we can. Contact Christi Authement for more info.

Keeping GSL Strong and Sustainable. Your sacred gifts of time, talent, and treasure are keeping GSL strong and sustainable. While parishioners are striving to practice self-care and care for one another during the COVID-19 pandemic, individual and household financial gifts also are supporting administration and operations, worship offerings, personnel, and much more. For ways to serve and connect at GSL in any season, contact Stewardship Associate Chapman Morrow (901-252-6328, cmorrow@gracestlukes.org) and visit gracestlukes.org/onlinegiving.

Pastoral Care.

To alert the clergy of a pastoral matter concerning yourself or a parishioner, including any medical procedures, contact the clergy confidentially via 901-252-6320 or pastoralcare@gracestlukes.org. For hospitalizations or emergencies concerning a member, contact the 24/7 Clergy-on-Call phone line at 901-252-6334. This is the best way to communicate pastoral needs and ensure a prompt response from the clergy.

Prayer List and Prayer Requests. To submit a prayer request for the Prayer List, you may contact Parish House Receptionist & Ministry Associate Abby Huber (ahuber@gracestlukes.org, 901-252-6336) or complete the online Prayer Request Form (www.gracestlukes.org/prayerrequest). Names of persons, who have given consent for names to be printed, will be listed for one month, unless a longer period is requested. While certain concerns may be confidential between the clergy and the individual, others may not be. If you are wondering about an individual, please contact the individual directly or a member of the clergy. Intercessions are offered daily by the clergy and lay pastoral care ministers and reflected in the worship service leaflet.

Outreach and Social Justice

Living Grace School Supply Drive.

Let’s come together as we keep our distance! The Outreach Committee is holding a school supplies drive to support one of our Servant Ministry Partners. Living Grace Memphis provides an individualized college and career readiness program, scholarships that encourage innovation and service, school supplies and toiletries, grooming services, and healthcare referrals. Clients are among the city's most vulnerable population – children who are underserved and experiencing homelessness. Regardless of how classes are held this year, our neighbors will still require school supplies. Please support Living Grace by donating the items listed in the link below.

Collection baskets will be inside on Sundays during the 10:30 a.m. service and outside during More Than A Meal (MTAM) on Sundays, July 26 and August 2 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. You can even take advantage of Tennessee’s Tax Holiday (July 31-August 2) for school supplies!

Follow this link to learn more about this Outreach initiative and how you can get involved.

Outreach Grant Applications Due August 31.

The GSL Outreach Grants process is open with the application and details located on the Community Grants web page . We are seeking “servant ministry partner” agencies whose mission aligns with our focus areas: feed/clothe/shelter the needy; care for the sick; healing brokenness in the world. GSL will award one “impact” grant of $7,500 and one “major” grant of $5,000 in each area.

Spread the word to potential partners. If you have questions, email outreach@gracestlukes.org.

Dorothy Day House Update.

Volunteering at Dorothy Day is still on hold due to COVID-19, but needs still remain to help the families served. You can help out by purchasing items at Amazon from their wishlist (similar to a wedding registry). Every little bit helps! The wishlist gets posted to their social media (Instagram and Facebook) on Wednesdays. Follow this link to their Wednesday Wishlist.

Stay Informed

eNews. Visit gracestlukes.org to subscribe to the parish eNews to receive weekly, seasonal, and emergency pastoral notices from the clergy or other leaders. Visit episwtn.org to subscribe to the West Tennessee Diocesan Communicator, and for access to beyond-local news from The Episcopal Church, visit episcopalnewsservice.org. Spread the word about these key communication platforms.

The Messenger Magazine.

Follow this link for the June-July issue of The Messenger. The next issue will be released in August with information about what to expect in the later summer and fall months of life at GSL: worship, formation, congregational life, outreach, social justice, and more.

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